Aisin adds eye tracking, heart rate monitor, and breathing detector to in-car warning system

Vehicle component manufacturer Aisin Seiki’s newest Intelligent Transportation System can tell not only whether you’re looking at the road, but if you’re still alive. The system uses a camera and motion tracking software to determine whether your eyes are open and looking straight ahead, as well as pressure-sensitive sensors to determine your heart rate and breathing. If the system senses your health may be in danger it can prompt you for a response before having your smartphone dial 911 (well, 119 in Japan). Representatives from the company told DigInfo that they would like for the system to be able to pull over and stop as well.

We’ve seen systems that track where the driver is looking (like Toyota’s Driver Monitoring System) before, but nothing as advanced as what Aisin is proposing. The company makes components for a number of automotive OEMs, so we might see a similar system installed in production vehicles within the next few years.